DE68925003T2 - Document data processing system. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a data processing device for control slips according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a device is known from EP-A-209907. EP-A-209907 describes a control slip processing device into which a user can enter different types of management data using a single transfer slip format. An example of such a slip is shown in Figure 2 of EP-A-209907. During data entry, a single general slip format is displayed on a display device. The user must enter a large number of words and users from different areas must use the same slip format.

Companies use a wide variety of business slips or business formats, including order acceptance slips, sales slips, purchase slips and transfer slips for expense accounts, credit slips and the like. In the following description, such slips, formats, records, etc. are generally referred to as slips.

In the prior art, as described, for example, in IBM Systems Journal, Vol. 21, No. 3, 1982, pages 327-350, New York, USA, when slip data is to be printed by a slip data processing device, slip data printing programs are started in response to an input command from a keyboard, and the slip data are then printed sequentially under the control of the printing program.

When slip data is input using a slip data processing device, a slip data input program is started in response to a command input from the keyboard, and the slip data is sequentially input under control of the slip data input program.

In order to print the slip data with different formats, corresponding printing programs for the slip data must be prepared. The slip data printing programs are usually written in a certain programming language. For example, the printing positions of the data and the slip format must be described by the programming language, which is a task for the expert. Therefore, it is difficult for the ordinary user to create and modify such programs.

In order to adapt the slip data processing device to various slip input formats, the corresponding slip input program must be prepared using the programming language. Therefore, it is difficult for the general user to create and modify such programs.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a slip data processing device that is able to work with different slip formats.

This problem is solved by the subject matter of patent claim 1.

The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show in detail:

Fig. 1 shows a compact slip data processing device for entering slip data;

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the slip data processing device;

Fig. 3 shows a view of a data set stored in the word memory 22;

Figures 4A and 4B show corresponding data as stored in the word correspondence memory 28;

Figures 5A and 5B are flowcharts for explaining the input processing operation of the slip data processing apparatus;

Figures 6A and 6B are flowcharts showing a print processing operation of the slip data processing apparatus;

Figures 7A to 7H show single-line slip formats during the print processing operation;

Fig. 8 shows a printing example of a slip printed by the printing section 33 of the print data processing apparatus;

Fig. 9 shows a flow chart detailing the print processing of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 shows a print buffer PB of the print processing section 32 of the slip data processing apparatus;

Figures 11A-11C show flowcharts of another example of the printing operation of the slip data processing apparatus;

Figures 12A-12I show a single line slip format printed in the printing operation of Figure 11;

Fig. 13 shows a printing example of a slip printed by the printing operation of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 14 shows a piece of paper according to Figure 13 in the folded state.

Figure 1 shows a hand-held slip data processing apparatus with a printer. The main body 11 is provided with a keypad 12 and a display 13 on the front side, and further has a power switch PWSW on one of the sides. A mode switch MDSW on the keypad 12 selects an input mode, a transfer mode and a registration mode according to the switch position. The input mode is for inputting slip data. The transfer mode is for passing the input slip data to an external unit (a host computer). The registration mode is for registering a record indicating the processing contents according to the words representing the slip data. Further, the keypad 12 is provided with numeric keys AK, a decimal point key BK, a clear key CK, a word spacing key DK which is activated each time the input of a word is completed, a designation key EK, a record delimitation key FK, which is activated each time the input of recording data is completed, an input completion key GK which is activated each time all data for a slip have been completely entered, and a print key HK for printing the input data in slip form.

The display window 13 has a word name display section 13-1 which displays the word name in character form or numerical form by means of a dot matrix, and further has a word data display section 13-2 which displays the word data. A printer 14 prints the data according to a predetermined slip format. Furthermore, the main body 11 is provided on its rear side with a transmitting/receiving section for transmitting and receiving data from and to external units using optical signals.

Figure 2 shows a circuit arrangement of the slip data processing device.

An input processing section 21 sequentially reads out the set data defining processing contents corresponding to the words representing a certain slip previously stored in the word memory 22. Before reading, a slip number (indicating the type of slip) is input from the input section 23 to the word set memory 22. Thus, the word memory 22 outputs the word name data corresponding to the input slip number. When the word name data read out from the word memory 22 indicates that data originates from the input section 23, the input processing section 21 waits for the input of data. When the set data indicates another processing word, the input processing section 21 generates the word data using the reference memory 24 and the like. During the data input wait state, the input processing section 21 takes in the data input via the input section 23 and stores them sequentially in the input memory 25 when a delimitation command is received from the input section 23 in response to activation of the word abbreviation key DK. The input processing section 21 displays the input data from the input memory 25 or the data generated using the reference memory 24 on the display section 26 and writes the data into the input data memory 27.

When the input of the word data for a single slip is completed, the processing section 21 reads out the predetermined word data to be sent from the input data memory 27, paying attention to the word correspondence memory 28, and stores the read out word data in the transmission data memory 29. The reference memory 24 has index tables A, B, C and D. In this embodiment, the index table A stores various buyer names in the form of character data. The index table B stores various section names corresponding to section codes in the form of character data. Furthermore, the index table C stores various item names corresponding to item codes in the form of character data. Furthermore, the reference memory 24 stores data such as the current date (year, month and day), slip number and the like.

The transmission/reception section 30 starts in response to a transmission/reception command from the input section 23, which is output from the mode switch MDSW which is in the transmission mode. Specifically, the section 30 reads out the content of the transmission data memory 29 and transmits the content to the external unit such as a host computer from the transmission/reception section 31 and using a photoelectric signal. Furthermore, the section 30 sets the mode switch MDSW in the registration mode to receive and registers the set data, the word corresponding to the data from the external data, in the set memory 22 and the word correspondence memory 28.

The print processing section 32 controls print processing according to a slip printing program stored in advance. When the print key HK has been activated before the input of the data, the input processing section 21 activates the print processing section 32 in response to the input of the completion key GK from the input section 23 and prints the word data sequentially read out from the input data memory 27 on a recording sheet placed in the print section 33.

Figure 3 shows various setting data stored in the word setting memory 22. A storage area for a single slip of the word setting memory 22 includes a title area KY, a header area HD and an item area AT. The data to be set in the respective areas can be arbitrarily written by the user according to the slip type number. The title area KY stores title data, a slip type number, a slip type name and the company name. The header area HD and the item area AT store word contents defining the processing content of the word, word names and labels corresponding to the words constituting a record. The setting data defining the word contents includes an input word and other processing words and is defined as follows.

"a" indicates an input word and defines that the word data is input from the input section 23.

"b" indicates an index word and defines that the word data is to be generated using an index table A, B, C and D as stored in the reference memory 24.

"c1" indicates a data word and defines that date data is read from the reference memory 24 and word data is prepared.

"d" indicates a constant word and defines an account code, sales code and the like, which are directly entered as word data.

"e" indicates a total word and defines that the item quantities should be added together and that word data should be generated to indicate the result.

"x" indicates a calculation word and defines that an arithmetic operation such as price x quantity and the like is to be performed and that parts of speech indicating the calculation result are to be generated.

" " indicates a compound word, which indicates that a plurality of word data are combined to become a single word. For example, the section code and the salesperson code are combined to produce single word data.

"II" and "E" define the start and end. Note that "A", "B", "C" and "D" indicate index tables A, B, C and D, respectively, stored in reference memory 24.

Figures 4A and 4B show a partial structure of the word correspondence memory 28. The word correspondence memory 28 stores a plurality of correspondence tables X, Y corresponding to the slip type number. The correspondence table X indicates a correspondence table between a slip indicated by the slip type number 120 and a slip indicated by the slip type number 112. Further, the correspondence table Y indicates a correspondence table between a slip indicated by the slip type number 130 and a slip indicated by the indicated by the type number 123. Each correspondence table X, Y stores correspondence data (word number) for making a record format for slips stored in an input data memory 27 and to be consistent with a record format of the slip processed by the host computer. For example, when the record format for a slip processed by the host computer includes 14 words input by word numbers "01", "02", ... and "14", the word numbers for the word data stored in the input data memory 27 corresponding to the corresponding words are stored in tables X, Y and the like.

Operational process

It is assumed that the word contents of a slip are defined in the word setting memory 22 as shown in Figure 3. To specify a slip shown in Figure 3, the numeric keys AK are activated to enter the slip number 120 and further the slip designation key EK is activated.

Thus, an input processing program of the slip data is called, and the input processing section 21 operates according to the flow chart shown in Figs. 5A and 5B.

First, the section 21 fetches a slip type from the word setting memory 22 corresponding to the input slip number, determines an address of a start word of the corresponding data (step S1), and reads out the word content indicated by the address (step S2). Then, the section 21 checks whether or not the read out word content is a termination word "E" in step S3. If the termination word "E" is not read out first, the section 21 proceeds to step S4 to check whether the read out content is a word "A" or another processing word. Since the slip number "120" is determined in this example, the section 21 reads a processing word, a data word "c1" from the header area HD indicated by the word number "01". Then, the section 21 proceeds to step S9 to check whether the processing word is an index word or a data word. If an index word or a data word is determined, the section 21 performs processing according to the index word "b" or corresponding to the data word in step S10. If a word other than the index word or the data word is determined, the section 21 proceeds to step S11 to perform processing corresponding to the word. Since the data word "c1" has been read out, the section 21 reads the current date from the reference memory 24. Then, the section 21 proceeds to step S7 to store the date data output from the reference memory 24 into the input data memory 27 as word data whose word number is "01". Then, the section 21 proceeds to step S8 to determine an address of the next word in the word setting memory 22 and then returns to step S2.

Thus, the section 21 reads out the input word "a" from the word setting memory 22, determines the input word "a" in step S4, and proceeds to step S5 where a word name corresponding to the input word "a" is read out, and finally the word name is displayed on the word name display section 13-1 of the display section 26. Then, the section 21 waits for word data from the input section 23 in step S6. At this time, the word name "slip number" corresponding to the word number "02" read out from the word setting memory 22 is displayed on the word name display section 13-1. An operator verifies the word name and inputs a slip number via the numeric keys AK of the input section 23, and then operates the word delimitation key DK. In response to the word abbreviation key DK, the input processing section 21 reads out word data stored in the input memory 25. and displays it on the word data display section 13-2 of the display section 26. Then, the section 21 proceeds to step S7 to write the data read out from the input memory 25 into the input data memory 27, the number of this data being "02". Thereafter, the section 21 proceeds to step S8 to determine the next word and then returns to step S2.

Then, in step S2, the section 21 reads out an input word "a" corresponding to the input number "03" from the word setting memory 22 and displays the corresponding word name in step S5. Since the word name corresponding to the word number "03" is not stored, the section 21 reads out and displays the corresponding word name, i.e. "buyer". Then, in step S6, the section 21 waits for the input of word data. If a buyer code has been input in step S6, the section 21 proceeds to step S7 to write the input buyer code into the input data memory 27 as data whose word number is "03". Then, the section 21 proceeds to step S8 to make the next word designation and then returns to step S2.

In step S2, the section 21 reads a word content (index word) whose word number is "04" read from the word setting memory 22. In step S9, the section 21 determines the read index word and proceeds to step S10 to perform corresponding index processing. The index word "b03:A" defines the read word data with the word number "03" (in this case, a buyer code), reads corresponding word data (for example, xxx company) from the index table A as stored in the reference memory 24, and displays this data on the data display section 13-2 of the display section 26. Then, the section 21 proceeds to step S7 to set the word data in the input data memory 27 as word data having the word number "04". Then, the section 21 proceeds to step S8 to determine the next word and then returns to step S2.

Similarly, the section 21 sequentially reads out the word content from the word set memory 22, checks whether the read out word content is an input word or corresponds to another processing word, and writes the word data into the input data memory 27 while performing the corresponding processing. When the section detects an "e" (total word) as the word content, the section 21 jumps to steps S11 and S7 and executes step S8. After completing a header processing, the section 21 executes an item processing. When reading the word "e" from the word set memory 22, which indicates that items constituting a record have been completely processed, the section 21 detects this in step S3 and then proceeds to step S12 to wait for the next key input. Since all the points for one record have been processed, the operator operates the record delimitation key FK. Then, the section 21 proceeds to step S13 to store header data stored in the input data memory 27 at a predetermined position in the memory 27 as header data for the next record. Then, the section 21 proceeds to step S14 to determine a start word of the corresponding record point and then returns to step S2. Thereby, a similar operation is carried out for the points constituting one record.

When all the records to be processed have been entered, the operator presses the completion key GK. In response to this key, the section 21 moves from step S12 to step S15 to determine whether the total word "e" is stored in the word set memory 22. In this case, the section 21 searches the word contents stored in the word set memory 22. stored from the start word corresponding to the specified slip type. Since the total word "i" is stored at a position corresponding to the word number "09", the section 21 proceeds to step S16 to perform a total operation. The total word "e" defines that the amount of each record is determined. Thus, the section 21 sequentially reads the amount of each record from the input data memory 27, sums them, and writes the total amount to a position in the input data memory 27 corresponding to the word number "09".

After completing the input of the word data amount for one slip, the section 21 proceeds to step S17 to read out predetermined word data from the input data memory 27 from the word correspondence memory 28 and store the read-out data in the transmission data memory 29. Specifically, the section 21 selects a table corresponding to the predetermined slip type (in this case, the table X corresponding to the slip type number "120") from the tables X, Y ... stored in the word correspondence memory 28. Then, the section 21 sequentially reads out the word numbers "01", "02", "09" of the slip data processing device from the corresponding table X. Among the word data constituting a slip corresponding to the selected slip type stored in the input data memory 27, the section 21 reads out word data designated by the word numbers sequentially read out from the corresponding table X and stores them in the transmission data memory 29. As described above, by storing word data read from the input data memory 27 in the transmission data memory 29 while paying attention to the word correspondence memory 28, word data stored in the memory 29 will conform to a record format used in a host computer.

In step S18, the section 21 determines whether a print determination flag indicating that a print key HK has been operated before data input is set. If the print indication flag is set in a memory content of the print processing section 32, the section 21 executes step S19. A detailed processing operation of step S19 is shown in Figs. 6A and 6B and will be described later. Execution of step S19 provides data stored in the input data memory 27 to the printing section 33 to be printed on the recording sheet. When the data stored in the transfer data memory 29 is transferred to a host computer in step S17, the operator switches the mode switch MDSW to the transfer mode. Thereby, the transmission/reception section 30 reads the data from the transmission data memory 29 and transmits the read data from the transmission/reception section 31 as an optical signal to the host computer.

The operation of step S19 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 6A and 6B.

Execution of a slip printing program causes the print processing section 32 to perform an operation corresponding to that of the flow chart of Figs. 6A and 6B. As a result, a slip as shown in Fig. 8 is printed. Note that Figs. 7A to 7H show formats for one line of a slip formed in the print processing.

According to the flow chart of Figures 6A and 6B, the print processing section 32 detects the set data corresponding to the specified slip types in step A1 and stores them in the word set memory 22 and determines an address of the set data. Then, the section 32 reads out "sales slip" in step A2. In step A3, the section 32 prints a format as shown in Figure 7A and prints the slip type name and a format as shown in Figure 7B in the next line. Then, in step A4, the section 32 reads the specified word name (e.g., "buyer") and the word data (xxx company) corresponding to an address of the slip from the set data for the specified slip type. Then, in step A5, the section 32 prints the read-out specified word name and the word data together with the format as shown in Figure 7B in the subsequent line. Further, in step A6, the section 32 reads the address (*** company) and prints it on the next line together with the format shown in Figure 7B. By the specified printing, three lines are formed including title data and a title within the title area X of a slip as shown in Figure 8.

Then, the section 32 proceeds to step A8 to print a format as shown in Figure 7C, indicating the end of the title format (which also serves as the start of the next header format). In step A9, the section 32 determines an address of the start word as stored in the word set memory 22, i.e., the start word of the designated slip type. Then, in step A10, the section 32 reads out the word contents corresponding to the designated word from the input data memory 27, and checks in step A11 whether all the read out word contents specify a header end, i.e., the dot start word "1". If the word contents do not indicate the header end, the section 32 checks in step A13 whether the word contents correspond to the dot completion word "1". If the word content does not correspond to the point completion word, the section 32 proceeds to step A14 to read out a word name corresponding to the designated word from the word setting memory 22, and checks the presence or absence of a description of the word name in step A15. As a result, if the word name is described in the corresponding designated word, the section 32 checks whether the word name of the designated word name is "buyer" in step A16. At the first The section 32 reads out a word name "date", executes steps A15 and A16, and reads word data corresponding to the specified word from the input data memory 27 in step A17. Then, in step A16, the section 32 prints the word data together with the word name and the name read out from the word setting memory 22, and further prints a format as shown in Fig. 7F. Since the name is not described in the date word, it is not printed. Then, the section 32 proceeds to step A19 to specify an address of the next word stored in the input data memory 27, and then returns to step A10.

In step A10, the section 32 reads out the input word "a" from the word setting memory 22. In this case, the word name "ticket number" is described in the specified word. Therefore, the section 32 prints the word data, the word name and the format in the same manner as that described above. In step A15, the section 32 detects that the word corresponding to the word number "03" has no word name and proceeds to step A19. Therefore, the word name is not printed. Specifically, in this case, the word content is the input word "a" indicating that a buyer code is to be entered, and therefore the buyer code is stored in the corresponding word stored in the input data memory 27. The actual buyer name is stored in the next word. Therefore, if the word name is stored first, the printing thereof is not carried out. In the word corresponding to the next word number "04", the word name "buyer" is described. In step A16, this is detected by the section 32, and it proceeds to step A19. Thus, in this case, too, printing is not carried out. In particular, "buyer" is a special word name and has already been printed as title data. Therefore, printing is not carried out to avoid printing of printing.

A similar operation is repeated for each word, thus printing the header data and header format line by line. As shown in Figure 8, the header data, consisting of five lines, is printed together with the header format in the header area Y on the sheet.

After the header printing is completed, the section 32 reads the dot start word "1" from the word setting memory 22 in step A10 and determines it in step A11. Thus, the section 32 proceeds to step A12 to print a page delimiter. Specifically, the section 32 prints the page delimiter to represent the title data and the header data as a block (one page, for example). In this case, the section 32 prints a format as shown in Figure 7D, i.e., it performs a printing operation indicating the end of the header format. Then, the section 32 performs a line feed to create a one-line space. Then, the section 32 prints a format as shown in Figure 7E, i.e., it performs a printing operation for determining a dot start position. As a result, as shown in Figure 8, a page boundary section P1 is formed at the lower end of the header area Y. Thus, the title area X and the header area Y of a first page of the slip are printed. The second to last pages of the slip are areas for dot data. In this case, the section 32 proceeds from step A13 to step A14 until a plurality of word data representing one dot are printed. Thus, in steps A10 to A14, the section 32 prints the dot data and word names line by line together with the format.

After completing the printing of one dot, the section 32 proceeds to step A20 to check whether the above processing is completed for all the data stored in the input data memory 27. If not, the section 32 proceeds to step A21 and increments the dot counter CT by 1. The section 32 compares a value of the dot number counter CT with a set number stored in the word setting memory 22 (step A22). Since printing for one dot is completed, the value of the dot counter CT and the number stored in the word setting memory 22 will be "1" and "3" respectively. Therefore, the section 32 determines in step A22 that there is no coincidence and proceeds to step A26 to print a dot delimiter. In the dot delimiter printing process, the section 32 prints a format as shown in Figure 7G. Then, the section 32 proceeds to step A25 to read the start word of the next dot stored in the word setting memory 22 and then returns to step A10 to repeat the operations. Thus, a dot delimiter is printed each time printing of one dot is completed. This operation is repeated until the value of the dot counter CT coincides with the set number "3". After these repetitions, three dots each consisting of four words are printed in the dot area Z-1 on the sheet, and a delimitation print is performed for each dot, as shown in Figure 8.

If the value of the dot counter CT matches the set number, section 32 proceeds to step A23 to print a page separator as described above. For this reason, three dots are printed on the second page of the slip.

When the second page is printed as described above, the section 32 clears the counter CT in step A24 and then proceeds to step A25 to perform the same operation as described above. Thus, the section 32 repeatedly performs steps A20 to A25 until the end of the data is detected in step A20. Now, assume that five dots are stored in the input data memory 27. In this case, two dots remain which are in the dot area Z-2 the third line of the sheet, as shown in Figure 8.

When the section 32 determines the end of the data in step A20, it proceeds to step A27 to print a format showing an end delimiter as shown in Figure 7H. Then the section 32 resets a print flag in step A28.

In steps A5, A7 and A18, an example was described in which the printing positions of the word names, the word data and the like are previously determined by the system.

However, the print positions of the word names and the word data may be arbitrarily specified. In this case, a user previously stores the specific data specifying the print positions of the word names and the word data to be printed corresponding to the respective words, thereby arbitrarily setting the print format of a slip. The print processing section 30 prints the word names, the word data and the like according to the data stored in the memory.

The slips printed on a roll paper can be folded at the page separation positions P1 and P2 of each page. At this time, the number of dots stored in the word setting memory 22 can be arbitrarily determined by the user. In this case, it is advantageous to determine the number of dots so that the length of the first page and each subsequent page is approximately the same, based on the number of words to be printed on the first page or based on the number of words for each dot.

Note that the formats used for the point delimiters and the page delimiters are not limited according to the above embodiments, so that various formats can be used arbitrarily.

As described above, a word name and word data are printed line by line. Therefore, even if the header and the number of words are different for each user, printing of a slip can be done lengthwise and at any length, thereby enabling a slip with many words to be printed. Thus, a small-sized printer can be used.

Figure 9 is a flow chart for explaining a detailed operation of the print processing (step A18) as shown in Figure 6. Figure 10 shows an arrangement of a print buffer PB provided in the print processing section 32. The print buffer PB comprises a 1-line buffer consisting of 22 locations. The locations P0, P10 and P21 store a vertical line code, the locations P11 to P20 store a word name, and the locations P1 to P9 store word data and names.

In step A18-1 of Figure 9, a blind processing section 32 sets the vertical line codes in the positions P0, P10 and P21 of the print buffer PB. Then, in step A18-2, the section 32 sets the word name in the positions P1 to P10.

Further, in step A18-3, the section 32 sets the word data in the positions P1 to P9. When the word data comprises a character string, the word data is sequentially input from the upper position to the lower position while the first position of the character string coincides with P9. When the word data comprises numeric data, the numeric data is sequentially input from the position with the least significant to the most significant position and matched with P1. If the name is present, section 32 sets the name to the position next to the word data in step A18-4. After the data of one line is stored in the print buffer PB as stated above, section 32 proceeds to pass the contents of buffer PB to print section 33 in step A18-5. Then, a line of data including word name, word data, names is printed as shown in Figure 7F. In another example, the word data comprises numerical data sequentially entered from the top position to the bottom position and matched with P9. If the name is present, section 32 sets the names to the position next to the position of the least significant numerical data in step A18-4.

Another example of the printing operation in step S19 of Fig. 5 will now be described with reference to the flow chart of Figs. 11a to 11c. In this example, a printing assignment of a recording sheet is automatically determined depending on the number of dot data. Figs. 12A to 12I show formats for one line similar to Fig. 7, except that the format indicates a fold shown in Fig. 12I.

First, in step B1, the print processing section 32 feeds a sheet for a certain number of lines (in this case, four lines) to make room for binding. Then, in step B2, the section 32 prints a format as shown in Figure 12A to print a title format. Specifically, the section 32 prints a format indicating the start of the title. In step B3, the section 32 sequentially prints title data of one word line by line as well as continuously with the start of the title format. Specifically, the section 32 determines the data set in the word setting memory 22 corresponding to a selected slip type, reads the "slip type name" from the set data and prints it together with the format as shown in Fig. 12B. Then, the section fetches the specified word name "buyer" from the set data of the selected slip type, reads the word data "buyer name" corresponding to the specified word name from the input data memory 27, and prints the word data, the specified word name, and the format. Further, the section 32 reads "our name" from the word set memory 22 and prints it together with the format. Thus, three lines of title data are printed together with the title format on the title area X-1 of the sheet as shown in Fig. 13. In this case, the print processing section increments the line number counter lH by one. Since one word of the title data is printed in each line, the value of the counter lH is "6".

In step B4, the section 32 prints the end of the title format (which serves as the start of the next header format) as shown in Figure 12C. In this case, the section 32 increments the line number counter lH and therefore the value becomes "7". In step B5, the section 32 determines the start word stored in the word set memory 22, that is, the start word of the selected slip type. Then, in step B6, the section 32 reads the word content corresponding to the specified word from the word set memory 22 and checks in step B7 whether the read content indicates the end of the header, that is, the start word "I". If the word content is not the end of the header, the section 32 proceeds to step B14. In this case, the word content is not the completion word "E". Thus, the section 32 proceeds to step B16 to read the word name corresponding to the word content from the word setting memory 22 and checks in step B17 whether the word name has been written. If the word name corresponding to the selected word has been written, the section 32 checks in step B18 whether the word name is the specified word name "buyer". Since the word name "date" is read out first, both determinations in step B17 and B18 affirmatively, and section 32 checks the word data corresponding to the specified word from the input data memory 27 in step B19, and prints the read word data together with the word name and the name read from the word setting memory 22 in step B20. Further, section 32 prints a format as shown in Fig. 7F. Section 32 increments line number counter lH by one so that the value thereof becomes "8". In this case, since the name is not described, printing is not carried out. Then section 32 proceeds to step B21 to set the next word and then returns to step B6.

In step B6, the section 32 reads the input word "a" from the word setting memory 22. In this case, the section 32 will print the word data, the word name and the field border line since the word name "slip type number" is described in the specified word.

Then, a word corresponding to the word number "03" is determined. In this case, the word name is not written. Section 32 detects this in step B17 and proceeds to step B21. Therefore, the word is not printed. Specifically, in this case, the word content is the input word "a" which defines the input of a buyer code.

Thus, only the buyer code is stored in a corresponding word as stored in the input data memory 27, and the actual buyer code is stored in the subsequent word. In this case, since the word name has not been written, printing can be omitted. In a word corresponding to the word number "04", the word name "buyer" is written. In this case, the section 32 detects this in step B18 and proceeds to step B21. In addition, printing of the word is omitted.

In particular, "Buyer" is a specified word name and has already been printed as title data. Thus, printing of "Buyer" will be omitted the second time to avoid double printing.

A similar operation is repeatedly performed for each word to print the header data and the header format line by line. As a result, five lines of word data are printed in the header area X-2 as shown in Figure 13. Thus, the line number counter lH becomes "12".

As described above, when the printing of the header area X-2 is completed, the section 32 reads the start word "I" from the word setting memory 22. The section 32 detects this in step B7 and proceeds to step B8 to print the end of the header as shown in Figure 12H. At this time, the value of the line number counter lH is increased by one and becomes "13". The value of the line number counter lH indicates the number of lines obtained by adding up the lines constituting the header area X-1 and X-2 (hereinafter referred to as the header area X). Therefore, the line number counter lH is used as the line number counter for the header area.

As described, when the section 32 completes printing of the header area X, it calculates a number of dots 5 in step B9. Specifically, the section 32 refers to the number of dots as stored in the word setting memory 22 and calculates the number of words to be printed among the words corresponding to the number of dots set by fetching the contents of the input data memory 27. The number of dots set is "3", and the number of words to be printed is four per dot. Thus, the total number of words to be printed is 12. Therefore, the section 32 calculates the number of lines SlI by adding the number of lines "4" to the number of words (the number of dots plus a Then, the section 32 compares the line number SlI with the line number lH in step B10. At this time, the line number SlI and the line number lH are "16" and "13". Thus, the section 32 causes a line feed by (SlI - lH) in step B1 (three lines) and prints the fold line in step B12. Thus, a space of 3 lines is formed at the bottom of the header area X and a horizontal line is printed as a fold portion of the sheet as shown in Fig. 12I. In printing the fold line or fold portion, a first page (header area X) of the slip is defined. In this case, in order to make the length of the first page coincide with that of the second page, a space for adjusting the length is formed at the bottom of the header area X.

On the other hand, when the section 32 detects in step B10 that the line number counter lH is larger than the line number SlI, the space for adjusting the length is not formed at the lower portion of the header portion X. The section 32 sets "1" in the flag register in step B15 and prints the folding line in step B12.

Then, the section 32 proceeds to step B13 to print the starting format as shown in Figure 12E. Then, in step B14, the section 32 checks whether all the dots have been processed. Since the starting word "I" is read out, the section 32 proceeds to step B16 to read out the word name. Then, in step B20, the section 32 prints the dot data, the word name and the format word by word, as described above. In this case, the section 32 increments the line number counter lI every time a word is printed.

When the section 32 has completed printing a dot, it reads the completion word "E" from the word setting memory 22. The section 32 detects this in step B14 and continues proceeds to step B22 to check whether the above-described operation has been carried out for all the data stored in the input data memory. If it is determined in step B22 that this is not the case, the section 32 proceeds to step B23 to increment the counter IC by "1". Then, in step B24, the section 32 compares the value of the number counter IC with the number of dots stored in the word setting memory 22. Since the printing of one dot is now completed, the value of the number counter IC becomes "1" and the set number stored in the word setting memory 22 is "3". Accordingly, the section 32 detects the mismatch between these two values and proceeds to step B32 to print a dot delimiter as shown in Figure 12G. In this case, the section 32 increments the line number counter lI by one. Then, the section 32 proceeds to step B31 to set the start word for a subsequent dot as stored in the word setting memory 22. Then, the section 32 returns to step B6 and repeats the above-described operation. Thus, each time a dot is completed, a dot delimiter is printed. Such an operation is repeated until the value of the dot number counter IC coincides with the set number "3". Thus, as shown in Fig. 13, three dots each containing four words are printed and then a delimiter is printed for each dot. At the same time, the line number counter lI is incremented and becomes "16".

If the value of the dot number counter IC matches the set number, the section 32 proceeds to step B25 to print an end as shown in Figure 12. Then, in step B26, the section 32 checks whether a "1" is set in the flag register. As described above, if the section 32 detects in step B10 that the line number counter lH ≥ the line number SlI, a "1" is set in the flag register. In this case, the section 32 proceeds to step B27 to feed a sheet by (lH - SlI) lines. Then, the folding line is printed in step B28. When the folding line is printed, a second page of the slip is defined. Paper feeding is carried out to make the length of the second page coincide with that of the first page. In this case, the line number counter lH and the line number SlI are "13" and "16". Accordingly, the section 32 detects in step B26 that no "1" is set in the flag register and prints the folding line without carrying out paper feeding in step B28. Figure 13 shows an example of a printed folding line. The second page of the slip represents a dot area Y in which dots 1, 2 and 3 are sequentially printed, and no space is formed at the lower part of the dot area Y for length matching.

As described above, the section 32 prints the second line and proceeds to step B29 to print a start format as shown in Figure 12E. Then, the section 32 clears the counter IC and the line number counter lI in step B30. Thereafter, the section 32 proceeds to step B31 and repeats steps B6 to B31 until the end of the data is detected in step B22. Thus, as shown in Figure 13, the remaining dot data (data of dot 4) is printed in the dot area Y-2 of the third page. When the section 32 detects the end of the data in step B22, it proceeds to step B33 to print the end of the format as shown in Figure 12H. Then, the section 32 advances the paper by (lH - lI) lines in step B34. Since the line number counter lH and the line counter lI are "16" and "6", the section 32 feeds a paper by 10 lines to create a length adjustment space at the bottom of the dot area Y-2. Then, the section 32 proceeds to step B35 to print the folding line as shown in Figure 12I and resets the flag in step B36.

The roll paper printed according to the above steps may be folded at the boundaries of the folding printing sections (i.e., the folding line). In this case, as shown in Figure 14, the folding printing section at the top of the first page and the folding printing section at the bottom of the third page are separated from each other. Then, the sheet is folded at the folding section between the first and second pages and between the second and third pages. Then, it is bound at the top of the first page by means of a binding machine so that the sheets can be easily handled.

In the above embodiment, three pages are printed. However, slips of paper with four pages or more can also be printed, depending on the number of dots.

Claims (11)

1. Data processing device for control slips with: a storage device (22, 24) for storing a slip form containing word names; a word data input device (23, 25) for inputting word data corresponding to the word names; a word data storage device (27) for storing the word data input via the word data input device; and an output device (29, 30, 31; 32, 33) for outputting slip data including the word names and the word data, characterized in that is still planned: word name input means (23) for inputting a plurality of slip names and a variable number of word names by the user, the word names defining a slip identified by the slip name; word name storage means (22) for storing the slip names and the word names corresponding to each slip name and for displaying a word structure for each of the slips, the slip names and the word names being stored as slip data, and the word names being stored in correspondence with the slip name; determining means (23) for determining a slip name before input of the word data, for reading word names of a slip corresponding to the determined slip name and allowing the user to input word data; and a control device (21) for reading the word names of the slip corresponding to the determined slip name from the word name storage device (22) and for displaying the read word names, wherein the word data corresponding to the read-out word names are inputted by the word data input means (23, 25) and stored in the word data storage means (27), wherein the output means (29, 30, 31; 32, 33) is thereafter activated to output a slip name and an extended slip, word names corresponding to the output slip name read from the word name storage means (22), word data corresponding to the read-out word names read from the word data storage means (27), and wherein the read-out word names and read-out word data are arranged in rows of the extended slip, thereby enabling the extended slip to correspond to the number of the read-out word names. 2. Processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is further provided: means (32, Fig. 6A A4) for detecting whether the word name in the word name storage means (22) is a predetermined special word name; and means (32), Fig. 6A A5) for outputting word data corresponding to the special word name together with the special word name at a predetermined position when the word name is detected to be the special word name. 3. Processing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises: a label storage device (22, Fig. 3) for selectively storing a label corresponding to the word name; and means (32, Fig. 6B A18) for reading the label, if a label stored with the word name read out from the word name storage means is stored in the label storage means, for appending the read out label to the word data to form a record and for visually outputting the word data of a record together with the appended label. 4. Processing device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that further comprising detecting means (32, Fig. 6B A22, A26) for detecting whether the word data sequentially read out from the word data storage means includes final word data of a part, each part comprising a plurality of word data and for outputting a part delimiter to the output means (33) between parts when the final word data is detected by the detecting means. 5. Processing device according to claim 4, characterized in that it is further provided: a number of parts storage means (22, Fig. 3) for storing the number of parts contained in a block, wherein a block contains at least one part; and detecting means (32, Fig. 6B A22, A23) for detecting whether the number of word data read out from the word data storage means coincides with the number of word data contained in the parts comprised by one block and for outputting a block delimiter to the output means (33) between the blocks, when the detecting means detects the coincidence of the word data. 6. Processing device according to claim 5, further comprising: means (32, Fig.11A, B11-B13) for forming a folding area for folding the sheet between blocks. 7. Data processing device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is further provided: word content storage means (22, Fig. 3) for storing set data for defining an operation corresponding to the individual word data; and processing means (21) for sequentially reading out the set data from the word content storage means (22, Fig. 3), for waiting for the input of word data if the read out set data indicates that an input operation to input word data from the input means (23) is being carried out, for carrying out an operation to generate word data if the read out set data indicates another operation and for writing the word data generated by the execution means or the word data input from the input means (23) into the data storage means. 8. Data processing device according to claim 7, characterized in that it is further provided: a word match storage device (28) for storing corresponding data between corresponding word data of at least one stored record and corresponding word data of a record of an external unit; and a transmission device (30) for transmitting the word data to the external unit, wherein the word data is indicated by the corresponding data from the word data of the at least one record stored in the word data storage device. 9. Data processing device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a folding area is provided between an area for printing header data, which contains at least one word, and an area for printing at least individual piece data, the piece data each containing at least individual data; and is also planned: means for determining whether an area for printing piece data is approximately equal to the size of the area for printing the header data; and means for forming a folding area each time an area for printing piece data is determined to be approximately equal to the size of the area for printing header data. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that a device for folding the printing material along the folding region is further provided. 11. Device according to claim 9, wherein the slip of paper has a header data area followed by at least two piece data areas, a first folding area provided between the header data area and one of the piece data areas, and a second folding area selected between the at least two piece data areas.